Chinese Fans

Fans have been used by many different cultures including the Egyptians, Assyrians, Greeks, Romans, and the Mayas and Incans in the Americas chinese fan.

The first fan used in China was in the 2nd Century BC, and the first written reference to the fan was in AD121. Flat fans became popular during the Han Dynasty, between 202 BC and AD 204.

The Chinese character for fan is an ideograph of feathers under a roof, and it is true that many of the first fans used in China were made from feathers. Early fans were also made from palm leaves, bamboo, plant fibers, and even animal hair. Fans were first used by members of the court and the upper-class, and they were used for decoration as well as utility.

The every day fan is called pien shan, and the flat fan is called wan shan. Flat fans were often used by court dancers in the 7th Century, and the feathers used for these fans made the dancers look like phoenixes in flight. Another name for the feather fan is yu shan.

Folding fans were first invented in Japan during the 8th Century, and were introduced to China in the 9th century. The folding fan was first manufactured in China during the Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD) and became popular during the Ming Dynasty.

The folding fan was soon made from fine materials such as silk and satin, and the spokes of the fan were made from materials as inexpensive as bamboo or as delicate as jade handheld fan. Many early fans were manufactured in Hangzhou, and Hangzhou and Suzhou are still known as the best towns to buy fans in China.

Fans have always held a strong place in Chinese literature. Fans are mentioned in great works such as The Dream of Red Mansions. A fan is even the centerpiece of the story in 'The Peach-Blossom Fan.'

Most recently, fans have paintings and designs written on them, and can be made from textile material, silk, paper, and even sandalwood. Sandalwood fans are especially popular because of their delicate scent.